There are two elements of this blog title that may peak curiosity beyond that which is just about the oft mystifying place known as L.A. One is the notion of “New Yorkers and other Europeans”, which implies that New Yorkers are Europeans. I am borrowing from a saying I heard after the last presidential election, a New Yorker’s apology to Europe, an appeal to the continent to the east that they kindly understand New York City is not representative of the rest of the U.S., that it is in fact an island off the coast of Europe. I know New Yorkers are their own breed and that there are many breeds within the breed and that the same can be aptly said of Europeans. However, there are certain commonalities between the two cultures that are striking and that I have observed cause them to have similar bewilderment about life in Los Angeles. Surely there are differences, like New Yorkers being used to speed vs. Europeans who have never used delivery so why get worked up about the fact that it hardly exists and when it does takes so f’ing long? So, ok, sometimes the blog will be more relevant to one culture than the other, but I think you’ll find it is often a two birds, if not of a feather, of similar feathers, with one stone kind of deal.
The other element in the title that might have folks asking questions is the bit about “life beyond good bread.” This stems from the fact that a large number of people with whom I have spoken over the years here in L.A. admit to this place, compared to New York and much of Europe, not having very good bread. Simple. For example:
1. There’s the debate about pizza, which is in the bread category because of the crust, which seems to be a big issue for a lot of transplants. Some New Yorkers blame the water, some Italians blame the soil that grew the wheat or even some metaphysical lack of love of food in LA compared to the home country. The reality is that for many, being able to get guacamole, no cheese, or east asian pan-fry on top of their pizza doesn’t make up for the loss.
2. There’s the bagel discussion, namely that there’s just not the same great bagels here as in New York City, and even if there are places in L.A. that boast H and H, those bagels have most likely been frozen, and they’re still a specialty item as opposed to something the likes of which you can get on the fly almost anywhere in Manhattan. I can personally attest to the fact that I have never tasted anything that approaches the quality of my far West Village neighborhood favorite Hudson Bagels.
3. There’s the wistful look of people when they say I have been in France for the year and the Europeans who live here as they reminisce about the bread back home–the stuff that is a food, that was the staff of their life before they encountered a place where it wasn’t so, this place where bread is often even maligned for being the cause of unwanted bulges and worse (gasp), wheat allergies. Most will admit that it is rare but possible to find such bread in a few places in Manhattan (as opposed to, say, Paris, where it is quite common)–like Bouley. But is there a Bouley equivalent in LA? I certainly haven’t found it. I personally have yet to find a place where I can buy great bread here. La Brea Bakery was a revelation when it opened more than 20 years ago, but at that time, I was a kid who had never lived outside Los Angeles and didn’t know what real bread was, unless it was made at home. I suspect it was also better back then. It hadn’t mass produced to the point of being available at Ralph’s (a large grocery store chain for those of you who don’t frequent Los Angeles). Someone (a recent New York transplant) just recently recommended Joan’s on Third. Curious to hear opinions.
All that said, there is life in LA beyond good bread, and this website aims to help you find it.
No comments:
Post a Comment